Teens charged in South Side carjacking

March 19, 2010

Two teens were charged early this morning with carjacking, accused of shooting a 23-year-old man Wednesday night, then stealing his car and crashing it into another vehicle, injuring three people, police said.

Curtis Brown, 19, and a 17-year-old accomplice walked up to the 23-year-old man as he was getting out of his Buick LeSabre near 36th Street and Rhodes Avenue on Wednesday at about 7:30 p.m., according to a police statement.

They demanded the car keys, which the man gave them just before he was shot him multiple times, police said. Brown and the 17-year-old drove away in the man's Buick.

At 47th Street and Langley Avenue, the Buick hit another vehicle carrying two adults in a child. Police said they three suffered minor injuries in the crash. Brown, of the 6500 block of South Stewart Avenue, and his alleged accomplice were taken into custody at the scene.

Each was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated battery with a firearm, according to police, who declined to release the 17-year-old's identity. They are scheduled to appear in court today.

Despite being shot, the victim jumped onto the car's hood, trying to stop the carjackers from leaving, Mirabelli said. He was thrown to the ground but managed to get to the lobby of a nearby apartment building, where someone helped him, and 911 was called. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in stable condition, police said.

Police broadcast a description of the man's maroon 1999 Buick and officers began pursuing it, Mirabelli said. The car crashed at Langley and 47th. Police found a handgun they believe was used in the shooting.